Spring 2026 Update Blog

Changes to the SLG Committee

It has been an honour to serve as SLG Chair for the past two years – and the six years before that, with a two-year break in between.  I have seen the SLG community grow and develop during that time, and worked closely with the previous CEO Nick Poole, and the previous CEO of the SLA Alison Tarrant during the scary time of Covid and lockdowns.  I am very proud of the way we worked together as a team on a protocol to keep librarians safe during Covid, consulting government agencies on the best way to protect our community even when we didn’t know at that time just how Covid was spread.  We also worked closely with SLA on setting up the Great School Libraries Campaign which is a fantastic example of co-operation between the two organisations, and we have worked together too on a statement of intellectual freedom for school librarians which we are now developing further in our work on Censorship alongside Professor Alison Hicks.  During my time as Chair the Committee also worked on a free Open University course for school librarians just starting out on their careers, and a book to go alongside it which goes into more depth, which is also useful for librarians at any level.  The Committee is in the process of finishing updating our seminal Guidelines book, which gives Heads and others the ‘nuts and bolts’ of setting up a school library from scratch.  This book is one of Facet’s bestsellers, and we hope that our new version which is due out later this year/early next year, will continue to be as popular.

The SLG Committee does a huge amount of work, most of which you don’t see because it is things like submitting reports to Government on the Curriculum Review for instance, and I am immensely honoured to have been part of, and then led, this group of dedicated librarians for many years.  I shall now happy retire – I have already retired from school – knowing that the Committee remains in safe hands under Carol Webb.

A key priority will be providing high-quality training and practical resources to support members in their roles. We will also contribute to the professional conversation by publishing articles on current issues and sharing best practice across the sector.

As Chair, I will support committee members in the important work they do for our community, while helping to guide continuing professional development and professional qualifications for our members.

Barbara Band our current Treasurer will be stepping up as vice chair for the committee whilst still doing her Treasurer role and Marianne de Giovanni will be taking over as the committee secretary.

Catch Up on National Year of Reading Training Events

Defending the Freedom to Read: CILIP SLG Supporting Recent School Censorship Case

A follow-up article further explores the issue of accountability, questioning who is responsible when books are removed—whether it be school leadership, external pressures, or wider safeguarding interpretations. The reporting suggests that decisions are often made without transparent processes, leaving librarians and educators navigating complex and sometimes conflicting expectations around inclusion, safeguarding, and intellectual freedom.

These developments reflect a broader trend identified in earlier research, where over half of UK school librarians reported being asked to remove books, frequently those featuring LGBTQ+ themes. The cumulative effect is a growing concern that censorship—whether explicit or through self-censorship—may be limiting young people’s access to diverse voices and experiences.

The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), alongside the School Libraries Group (SLG) and sector partners, has consistently emphasised the importance of intellectual freedom and equitable access to information. CILIP guidance is clear that materials should not be removed on moral or political grounds alone, reinforcing the role of libraries as spaces for exploration, inclusion, and learning.

SLG continues to support school library professionals in navigating these challenges, advocating for clear policies, professional autonomy, and the safeguarding of inclusive collections. As conversations around censorship evolve, both SLG and CILIP remain committed to championing the right of all learners to see themselves reflected in the books they read and to access a wide range of perspectives.

Announcing the Winners of the Primary and Secondary School UK Pupil Library Assistant of the Year 2026 Awards

The award ceremony was held at the Pearson UK offices in London, bringing together students, educators, and library professionals for a day of recognition and inspiration. The event featured the amazing author and poet Matt Goodfellow as the guest speaker, who captivated the audience with his insights into creativity, literature, and the joy of reading.

The winners of each award were chosen by the distinguished judging panel, which included Barbara Band (Chair of the Judging Panel), Sufiya Ahmed (Children’s Author), Sue Bastone (SLA Trustee), Annie Everall (Director of Authors Aloud UK), and Caroline Roche (Chair of CILIP SLG).

The Primary School Finalist were:

• Abidah Khatun, Year 5, Dorrington Academy, Birmingham
• Beatrice McMillan, Year 6, Ravenscourt Park Prep School, London
• Sophie Schuijt, Year 6, Forest School, London

The Secondary School finalist were:

• Iris Aldridge, Year 11, St Hilda’s CE High School, Liverpool
• Olipher Grey, Year 13, Ullswater Community College, Penrith
• Thashini Jesunayahan, Year 10, North London Collegiate School, London
• Bethan Martin, Year 9, Dane Court Grammar School, Kent
• Ethan Ovens, Year 9, Abbeyfield School, Chippenham
• Kyra Kane, Year 13, Inscape House School, Cheadle
• Jasmine Wong, Year 10, Heathside School, Surrey

The wonderful UK Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Awards would not be possible without the incredible work of Barbara Band, Chair of the Judging Panel. Thanks also to the working party for managing the logistics of the awards and the ceremony, and to the judging panel for their hard work in selecting the finalists and overall winners.

Special thanks to Annie Everall at Authors Aloud for inviting a host of authors to champion each finalist, including guest speaker Matt Goodfellow. We are also grateful to the book publishers for donating books for the guest authors for all the finalists to receive and have signed. Finally, thanks to Pearson for hosting the awards, providing catering and refreshments, and supplying goodie bags for the finalists to carry their books.

Nominations for both the Primary and Secondary UK Pupil Library Assistant of the Year Awards for 2027 will open in September.

Your Rights and Wellbeing in the Workplace Webinar

CILIP School Libraries Group presents: Your Rights and Wellbeing in the Workplace Webinar

Monday 20^th April 7-9pm

Cost: Members and LIS students free and non-members £15.

Your Rights in the Workplace – Kristabelle Williams

This session will be looking at how working conditions and employment rights interact with the role of librarians and library workers in schools and colleges, and how to build confidence in knowing and navigating your rights at work. 

Break: 10 mins at 7.55-8.05pm

Supporting Wellbeing, Managing Pressure and Menopause in School Library Roles – Bev Collins

This session explores the realities of working in school and college library roles, where learning, wellbeing and safeguarding often intersect.

Librarians frequently manage emotional demands alongside operational responsibilities, often working independently and without regular opportunities to debrief. Over time, this can create sustained pressure that impacts focus, energy and overall wellbeing.

The session will explore how pressure builds in education settings, the impact this can have on individuals and teams, and why traditional approaches to self-care are not always realistic in school environments.

It will also introduce the additional layer of menopause in the workplace, how this can interact with pressure and stress, and what this may look like in day-to-day working life.

The session will provide practical insight into:

• Recognising the impact of sustained pressure
• Understanding how menopause can affect work
• Supporting your own wellbeing in realistic ways
• What supportive environments look like in schools and multi-academy trusts

This is a practical, reflective session designed to help participants better understand their own experience and consider what support looks like in their setting.

Speakers:

Kristabelle Williams is a Learning Resource Centre Manager and Literacy Co-ordinator at a secondary school in London and was the School Library Association’s School Librarian of the Year 2021 for her “unremitting and consistent focus on ensuring the best futures for her students, making reading, research and library use the norm”. Kristabelle is a qualified librarian and is a member of CILIP’s School Libraries Group Committee and advocates for the importance, value and impact of well-funded libraries staffed by librarians in all educational settings. She is also a union Workplace and Health and Safety Rep with experience in member representation, organising in the workplace and negotiating with management, and is part of building her union’s librarian members’ network. 

Bev Collins is the founder of award-winning Frank HR Solutions and works with organisations across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the wider UK, including those in the education sector. With over 20 years’ experience in senior HR roles, Bev supports organisations with employment law, workplace challenges and people strategies, helping leaders manage difficult situations with confidence and clarity. She is an accredited Menopause Training Partner and works with organisations to improve understanding, reduce risk and create supportive workplace environments around menopause and hormonal health. Bev is known for her practical, down-to-earth approach, combining professional expertise with real-world experience to support both organisations and individuals.

Book your place for this webinar in the link below: https://www.cilip.org.uk/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2050228&group=